WOMEN VETERANS

"I am an American Woman and I served

the people of the United States"

I am a Veteran

WOMEN VETERAN’S

DEMOGRAPHICS

Women represent nearly 15% of today’s active duty

military and 18% of guard and reserve forces

20 % of all military recruits are women

One of the fastest growing subpopulations based on

active duty and recruiting numbers

Median female Veteran’s age is 49; male Veteran’s age is 64 (as of

9/3/12)

WOMEN

VETERAN’S

DEMOGRAPHICS

Women serve in every branch of the military

By 2020 VA projects that 10.5 % of Veterans we serve

will be women

Women soldiers see intense combat and receive

combat-related injuries

Of the 22.3 million living Veterans 2.24 million are

women (VetPop as of 9/30/12)

WOMEN VETERANS OF OEF/OIF/OND

Women comprise nearly 12% of soldiers who served

in Iraq and Afghanistan

More than 79% of them are younger than 40

88% are enlisted; 12% are officers

Approximately 55% OEF/OIF/OND Women

Veterans currently use VA

WOMEN VETERANS

CHALLENGES

More likely to have a service-connected disability

rating, 50% or more female veterans have a

current service connected rating

Enrolled women Veterans represent 6.7 percent

of the total enrolled Veterans population

Less likely to use VA health care at all but more

likely to use only VA health care

Less likely to be insured, and

More likely to have no earnings or income, and

live in poverty

WOMEN VETERANS

CHALLENGES

Women are seeing combat action

Many are not aware of and do not apply for VA’s

benefits and services. Women who served during

Peacetime are less aware of what’s available.

Women Veterans should feel free to ask to meet with a

provider of the same sex or opposite sex if it would

make them feel more comfortable.

HOMELESSNESS

Over the past decade

the number of female

veterans who have

become homeless has

nearly doubled to

roughly 6,500

according to the VA

Most of them are

younger that 35 and a

large number of them

have children.

HOMELESSNESS

Returning servicewomen are facing a battlefield of

a different kind

Male returnees become homeless largely because of

substance abuse and mental illness

Female veterans face these problems and more

including the search for family housing

More than 60 percent of transitional housing

programs receiving grants from the Department of

Veterans Affairs did not accept children, or

restricted their age and number

HOMELESSNESS

Issues impacting homeless women

veterans include:

Betrayal trauma

Rape

Exposure to combat artillery and missiles

Lack of social supports

Substance abuse

Mental illness

Premature discharges

Ineligibility for VHA benefits.

Feeling unsafe.

Women veterans are up to four times more likely to be homeless than non-veteran women

HOMELESSNESS

Five predominant "roots" (precipitating experiences)

that could initiate pathways toward homelessness:

childhood adversity

trauma and/or substance abuse during military service

post-military abuse

adversity and/or relationship termination

post-military mental health, substance abuse, and/or

medical problems

unemployment

PTSD, ANXIETY

AND MILITARY

SEXUAL TRAUMA

(MST)

Women in the military have proven themselves to be brave, disciplined professionals

People under estimate what anyone is exposed to in combat

Across all ages and all career paths, trauma is trauma, regardless if that person is male or female

Many don’t know that service connection or disability compensation is not required to receive free treatment for conditions resulting from MST

PTSD, ANXIETY

AND MILITARY

SEXUAL TRAUMA

(MST)

Compared with those without a history of sexual assault, women veterans were 9 times more likely to have PTSD if they had a history of

MST(Military Sexual Trauma)

7 times more likely if they had childhood sexual assault (CSA) histories

5 times more likely if they had civilian sexual assault histories

An investigation of medical charts revealed that PTSD is diagnosed more often for women with a history of MST than CSA

Women veterans have differential rates of PTSD due to sexual assault, with higher rates found among those assaulted while on active duty

Although women with MST are more likely to have PTSD, results suggest that they are receiving fewer health care services

WHY ARE VSO’S SO

IMPORTANT?

Knowledgeable Veterans Service Officers(VSO's) understand

problems, which confront veterans, widows, widowers, and

children and can help them navigate a complex system

VSO’s know the extent, the meaning and the application of

laws that have been passed by the U.S, Congress in the

interests of veterans and their dependents , critical to

successful case outcome

VSO’s apply specialized knowledge in the best way suited to

the needs of every individual veteran or other beneficiary

who comes to the office for assistance

Citation: Disabled World News (2012-04-11) - A Veteran Service Officer provides information and assistance to veterans and their family members by helping to obtain benefits and services: http://www.disabled-world.com/editorials/veterans/vso.php#ixzz2SjnhXB00

A VETERAN SERVICE

OFFICER

The service officers learn, through the military records and through personal conversations, many intimate details concerning the veterans life.

Any confidential information - whether it is supplied by a veteran, the VA, or another party, is something that remains confidential and is not discussed or released except to people who are personally connected to the case and have a, 'need to know'

VSO’s provide services for veterans, they do so without prejudice related to the veteran or family member's race, class, gender, or ability

They will assist veterans in preparing claims which are entirely honest. They will prepare claims in order to put the best light on the claim. Any information which is known to be dishonest will not be included

A VETERAN SERVICE

OFFICER

The service officer maintains high professional standards in his dealings with other service officers or veteran's counselors, never being critical of them

They are non-partisan between veteran's organizations. They will render service to any veteran or any veteran's organization. Racial and Religious preferences have no bearing on the cases they handle

WOMEN ARE MEANT TO BE APPRECIATED

NOT UNDERSTOOD

The number one thing to know about women is

you can’t understand them

Feelings can’t be understood

Women want you to be there for them not try to

fix them

HOW TO HAVE A

SUCCESSFUL ENCOUNTER

FACT :Women can be more emotional than men

Helpful Suggestions for VSO:

DON’T PRESUME ANYTHING!

When a couple walks in acknowledge both parties equally

Help her recognize what she is trying to accomplish to help her keep her sense of control

PROBLEM SOLVING

Men tend to focus on facts and seek immediate

resolution

Women desire more introductory time to develop

trust and feel more comfortable with a VSO

VSO’s need to allow female veterans extra time

in the initial visit to work through their thoughts

“I’M LISTENING”

Helpful Hints for VSO’s:

Let the woman go through the process of

explaining her situation to you

Don’t just listen, tell her that is exactly what you

are going to do

Use “reflective listening”

Ask specific questions and show them you care

about what they want

NON VERBAL

COMMUNICATION

FACT:

Women tend to speak with animated faces, hands

in motion and often touching others

Helpful Hints for VSO’s:

Nod your head when she is speaking

Make eye contact and face the person speaking to

you

Appear in charge by using your body to control

the discussion space

Preserve calm and prevent emotional escalation

The Invisible SoldierYou can tell her by the twinkle in her eye,

At parades when the flag marches by.

She served our country and she served it very well.

Some have even served a tour or two in Hell.

She suffered hardship and never ceased to care.

It gave us strength just to know that she was there.

She was a leader, you could tell by the rank she wore,

But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

She can march, she can fly, and she can sail.

She proved that bravery isn’t exclusive of the male.

She did every job she was asked and more,

But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

Now, it is finally time to right a wrong.

Honor our sister soldier; hear her song.

It’s very clear that she’s a patriot to the core.

Don’t let her be the invisible soldier anymore.

by Sarge Lintecum